The world’s forests are the homes of thousands of plant and animal species. Deforestation has a range of environmental impacts, including increased soil erosion, landslides, floods, and air pollution that can lead to hospitalizations and deaths. It also robs people of vital resources like clean water and timber, threatening their livelihoods.
Big agricultural businesses are driving most deforestation, clearing land for cattle ranching and crops like soy and palm oil. These businesses rely on robust export trades, which fuel demand for their products. Small farmers, who use methods like slash-and-burn farming to grow food in tropical areas, are another major cause. They also cut down trees to sell for wood, a common material for furniture and building materials.
Trees are a natural carbon sink, absorbing and holding on to CO2. When they’re chopped down or burnt, this CO2 is released into the atmosphere. This is one of the main causes of global warming.
Forest loss affects wildlife by reducing their habitats, making it harder for them to find food and shelter. It also makes them more likely to come into contact with humans, which increases the risk of conflict. Iconic animals like jaguars and tigers lose their natural habitats, which means they’re more likely to be killed or hurt by hunters or hit by vehicles.
Road construction is a major driver of deforestation, as it opens up previously inaccessible parts of the landscape to human settlement and commercial exploitation. The roads themselves can cause damage to the ground, interrupting wildlife migration routes and destroying their habitats.